Jaeger's injury creates serious void

Ron Kroichick, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published
4:00 am PDT, Monday, August 28, 1995

1995-08-28 04:00:00 PDT El Segundo, Los Angeles County -- The Raiders respectfully request an amendment to the rules governing exhibition football. They would like to step back in time one month and eliminate kickoffs. Just junk them altogether.

Six days from their first regular-season game in Oakland since Dec. 13, 1981, the Raiders suddenly are without veteran placekicker Jeff Jaeger. Coach Mike White said yesterday that Jaeger, who sprained his right knee in last Friday night's exhibition victory over New England, will miss Sunday's opener against San Diego.

According to White, Jaeger could miss "several weeks." This presents an immediate and deep problem for the Raiders, because Jaeger is one of the most reliable kickers in the NFL. He was 22 for 28 on field-goal attempts last season and made all 31 of his extra- point attempts.

"It's a real blow to us," White said. "We have two of the best kickers in the league (including punter Jeff Gossett), temperament-wise. Some kickers are a little off-center. We'll miss Jeff's leadership. It's disappointing, but we'll just have to replace him."

Asked if there were any way Jaeger could kick Sunday, White said, "I'd say it's impossible."

The news on Jaeger came as the Raiders reached their 53-man roster. They waived five players, terminated the contract of defensive back Dan Land and traded

defensive lineman Willie Broughton to New Orleans for an undisclosed draft choice in 1996.

At the same time, the Raiders launched open auditions to replace Jaeger. They brought back former San Jose State kicker Joe Nedney yesterday for a tryout; Nedney, waived by Oakland less than a week ago, will return to the team's practice facility this morning for another workout.

White planned to scan the waiver wire last night, searching for available kickers. Those waived yesterday include New Orleans' Cary Blanchard, who was 33 for 48 on field goals for the New York Jets in 1992 and '93, and Jacksonville's Scott Sisson, who was 14 for 26 for New England in '93.

The Raiders obviously will have a difficult time finding someone with Jaeger-like ability. He first hurt his knee August 12, while making a tackle on a kickoff against St. Louis. Nedney handled kickoffs the following week against Minnesota, while Jaeger limited himself to field goals and extra points.

Then, on Friday night's opening kickoff, Jaeger reinjured the knee when he turned awkwardly and fell to the ground while chasing New England's Dave Meggett. White said a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam of Jaeger's knee showed no need for surgery. The Raiders expect to know more about his expected recovery time by the end of the week.

In the meantime, seeking either solace or a new kicker, White called his son, Chris. Chris kicked for his father at the University of Illinois, helping the Illini reach the Rose Bowl. Mike White managed to find a glimmer of hope in their conversation.

"It's almost better that it's Jeff's right leg," White said, relaying his son's words. "The plant leg is what really kills the kicker."

The Raiders overcame Jaeger's injury against the Patriots with improbable help from backup quarterback Billy Joe Hobert. Kicking for the first time since high school, Hobert converted three extra- point attempts and made a wobbly, game-winning 45-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter.

Even so, the games begin counting Sunday. So Hobert resumes his customary duties . . . unless an emergency arises.

As for yesterday's roster maneuvers, there were no big surprises. The Raiders waived running back Wes Bender, tight end Marcus Hinton, defensive tackle Kevin Johnson and wide receivers Sean Foster and Tyrone Montgomery. They also terminated Land's contract, so he automatically becomes a free agent.

The Raiders will keep only four wide receivers -- Tim Brown, Raghib (Rocket) Ismail, James Jett and Daryl Hobbs. They carried five receivers last season, but White said he thought four was "adequate."

Montgomery's departure is noteworthy, if for no other reason than he began last season as the starting tailback. Harvey Williams supplanted Montgomery and sent him in search of a new position.

"Ty is just learning to be a receiver," White said. "One of his greatest skills is speed -- but that's also the case with Rocket and Jett, as well as the other two guys."

NOTES: The Raiders traded Broughton because the defensive line is probably their deepest position. They kept eight defensive linemen, including former No. 1 overall draft choice Aundray Bruce. . . . All six 1995 draft choices in camp survived yesterday's roster cuts, including third-round pick Joe Aska. He was on the bubble at running back, but the Raiders dropped Bender. . . . Kevin Smith, the son of former Raiders running back Charlie Smith and a Skyline High School graduate, made the team as the third tight end. He and Kerry Cash will back up starter Andrew Glover.